What feature of Okonkwo's character persuades Nwakibie to give him the seed yams?

Answer 1

Nwakibie is the richest man in the village, thus the most able to help. Okonkwo has cleared a large farm but has few yams to plant as he is a starting farmer, and his father is not a great farmer either. Okonkwo believes that Nwakibie will be able to help him, and will be willing to do so, as he believes that Nwakibie is the type to respect hard work. By plowing the fields before asking for the yams, Okonkwo proves to Nwakibie that he is serious, and will not let the gift go to waste.

Answer 2

Nwakibie is convinced by Okonkwo's sincerity which is marked with action (plowing the fields) before asking Nwakibie for the yams.

• His hard-working demeanour
• His seriousness towards success
• His respect towards Nwakibie for the right reasons

Answer 3

Okonkwo earns his first seed-yams by asking to share crop seed-yams from Nwakibie, the wealthiest man in the village. In order to gain Nwakibie's assent, he laboured to plow a large farm before asking Nwakibie of this favour. It may also be argued that Okonkwo had impressed Nwakibie in other ways, eg, perhaps by his Wrestling skills or in war, although this is not certain.

Note that these first seed-yams were not really Okonkwo's, but Okonkwo would be entitled to 1/3 of the harvest from them.

Answer 4

When share-cropping, the provider of the yam seeds receives 2/3 of the harvest.

Okonkwo has proved that he is serious about using the seeds wisely by plowing his fields before he asks for the seeds. Okonkwo also has gained a reputation as a strong man and a hard worker. Further Nwakibie, is the richest man in the village, and thus the most able to help Okonkwo.

Answer 5

Nwakibie is inspired that he will be able to give a gift to a person who will actually treasure the gift and treat it with the respect it deserves. Okonkwo, like Nwakibie, is a man who values hard work and effort. Further, Okonkwo does the job of actually plowing the fields before asking for Nwakibie's help. Okonkwo has already proven that the gift will not go to waste, as least not due to hard work.

Nwakibie is entitled to two-thirds of the harvest from these seed yams.

Answer 6

In exchange, Nwakibie was entitled to 2/3 of the harvest from these 800 seed yams. Nwakibie thought that it would be a good investment.

Nwakibie is inspired that he will be able to give a gift to a person who will actually treasure the gift and treat it with the respect it deserves. Okonkwo, like Nwakibie, is a man who values hard work and effort. Further, Okonkwo does the job of actually plowing the fields before asking for Nwakibie's help. Okonkwo has already proven that the gift will not go to waste, at least not due to lack of hard work.

Further, Nwakibie recognizes the necessity of established people helping others in the village who not yet established.